Gwendolyn Herron is a Business Office Representative and a Steward at Whidbey Health Medical Center. When the HR Director told them that she was raising the number of hours that would qualify workers as part-time, Gwendolyn and her fellow co-workers took action…

Brenda Eaden is an Associate at the Southcenter Macy’s Furniture Gallery. When Macy’s violated the contract and took 40 hours of worker’s vacation and turned it into sick leave after the new Sick and Safe Leave Law, Brenda called her union.

Glen Steele has worked as a Tech at the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital for almost a decade. Glen is a strong leader and one of the founding members of UFCW 21’s Movement Builders, a group dedicated to connecting members and community. With Movement Builders Glen has worked diligently for LGBTQ rights, issues dear to his heart because he has a trans child. Glen says…

Stephanie Weibel has worked as an RN in the Emergency Room at Trios Health for 5 years. After attending a Trios bankruptcy meeting, she realized how important it was to be involved in anything that affects her workplace. Stephanie decided the best way to stay informed and make positive change in her workplace was to become a Steward.

Macy’s associates Worked-It at the Seattle Pride parade with Pride at Work, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA), MLK Labor and thousands of revelers. As the parade moved down 4th Avenue in front of Macy’s, UFCW 21 members gave out feather boas and beads and led a chant “We are Union!”

Cliff Berger a Courtesy Clerk at the Auburn Safeway was sent home early by his manager because “we didn’t meet sales.” Knowing his contract, (the schedule may be changed in case of an emergency or by 48 hrs notice to the employee or by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee), Cliff questioned his Manager. Safeway HR was notified of the contract violation and Cliff was paid for his time. Cliff knew the benefits in his union contract and stood up for his rights in the workplace.

Keegan McDonnell has worked at Evergreen Medical Center in Kirkland as a Radiology Tech for two years. When she joined UFCW 21 she asked to meet with the Union Representative to better understand how members at UFCW 21 build our membership and community.

National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) : With all the civil attacks reoccurring across the country, our members are being faced with police brutality, bullying, and senseless killing. Now more than ever we have to come together collectively and exercise our civil rights as human beings and members of society.

Jeffery Crowell, a Meat Cutter at the Port Orchard Albertsons, took a look at his paycheck and realized he had not received his raise. Jeffery was being paid $18.15 and should have been raised to the journey rate of $22.80. He spoke with his co-worker who encouraged him to reach out to his union.

Kevin Steendahl from Fred Meyer has worked in retail for over 2 years and enjoys connecting with customers but does not enjoy the scheduling practices used at his workplace before the Secure Scheduling Ordinance passed. With short notice and an unpredictable number of hours, he found it difficult to plan life around his work schedule.

Jaime Smith, a Meat Wrapper at Lacey Fred Meyer, was told by Management to come to their office, they told her that she was going to receive discipline. Knowing her contract and her Right to Representation (Weingarten Rights), she told Management she was going to call her Union Rep. Going into the meeting Management already had their mind made up with corrective action notice ready.

Members at PCC just won a new contract with increased wage scales, affordable accessible health care, improved scheduling practices, improved promotion language and many other improvements. The Stewards at PCC unified the groups of grocery and meat workers resulting in a great turnout for their vote and a good contract.

Karina Romero has worked at Macys for 6 years and is a single mother of 7 year old twins. One of Karina’s sons was diagnosed with a rare condition called Kawasaki disease which required her to take unpaid time off to monitor her son’s recovery. Once the new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act goes into effect workers won’t have to take unpaid time in Karina’s situation.

Marisa Nanakul, daughter of Safeway worker Maroot Nanakul, recently graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Informatics concentrating in Data Science. Marisa made a special point to thank UFCW 21 for our role in her education.

Jodi Spurgin is a workplace leader at Holy Family Hospital. Five of her co-workers came to her saying they were not being paid the rest between shift premium (their contract states, you are allowed 12 hours rest before starting your next shift or you will be paid an additional premium for those hours worked). Management fought and retaliated against the workers by making scheduling more difficult. Jodi, with the help of the union and her co-workers, stood up and fought back.

Aynsley Saucier just moved to Washington State. He came from a non-union job in Mississippi with a very hostile work environment where you were constantly reminded that you could easily be replaced. As a new workplace leader and a new member he has seen first-hand the union difference while working at QFC for three months.